PARIS / Brussels - Senior French officials said on Tuesday that political solution on Libya crisis is taking shape, and emissaries from Muammar Gadhafi said the embattled Libyan strongman is "prepared to leave".

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Tuesday in Paris that a political solution was needed in Libya more than ever, adding that he saw signs one was emerging.

"A political solution is more than ever indispensable and is beginning to take shape," he told a parliamentary commission, which was scheduled to vote later in the day on whether to extend operations in Libya.

"At its last summit, the African Union confirmed that Gadhafi would be able to take part in the political transition."

Fillon added that France backed mediation efforts by Russia and the African Union.

France's foreign minister said on Tuesday that Paris has had contact with emissaries from Gadhafi who say the embattled Libyan strongman is "prepared to leave".

Alain Juppe said that while the contacts do not constitute proper negotiations, "everyone (involved in Libya's civil war) has contacts with everyone else. The Libyan regime sends its messengers all over, to Turkey, to New York, to Paris.

"We receive emissaries who are saying, 'Gadhafi is prepared to leave. Let's discuss it.'"

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero stressed that the contacts with Libyans close to Gadhafi do not constitute negotiations. He also denied suggestions that France is acting as a go-between for Libyan rebels by passing messages when French officials meet with Gadhafi emissaries or that the French are taking a leading role in such contacts. The rebels, "if they have the intention of sending messages", can do so themselves, Valero said at a briefing.

He refused to identify the Libyan emissaries other than to say they were close to Gadhafi and travel to various major capitals.

France was instrumental in launching the NATO-led operation of airstrikes against Gadhafi's forces, in a UN-mandated mission to protect civilians resisting his four-decade regime.

In another development, NATO says its warplanes may continue bombing Libya during Ramadan if Gadhafi's forces attack rebel-held areas during the holy month.

NATO spokesman Wing Commander Mike Bracken said Tuesday the alliance would wait and see whether pro-Gadhafi units cease their operations during Ramadan, which starts around Aug 1. If they don't "then I think it would be highly appropriate to continue to use the mandate that NATO has to protect those lives", he said.

The Western alliance is operating under a UN mandate that allows the use of force to protect civilians.

AP-Reuters